Help! I'm dealing with a sick Newfoundland today!

[Raven]

She got me up at 5 this morning, which is unusual, and disappeared outside for about 15 minutes, which is also unusual. When she came back in she got sick...everywhere. She's a big dog (120 lbs.) so when she gets sick, its buckets. About an hour later she went out again, ate alot of grass (of course), came back in and got sick again...buckets. She then went into her kennel and has been there ever since. I have given her no food but access to water. She has stopped being sick but for sure is not herself. This dog has never had human food unless she's stolen it or someone else has fed her. When she has, she gets sick bigtime. I think she must have gotten into something. I am keeping her quiet, not feeding her, giving her water. Is there something else I could be doing short of taking her to the vet?

[Mari333]

1. I just lost my dog the other day, sudden death

I would take her to the vet immediately...Im biased, but I couldnt bear knowing your dog died because of something she ate and didnt get to the vet on time. I had to drive an hour to the clinic on a Saturday, and she might have been saved if we had a clinic closer to us..
anyway, I would take her to the vet.

[Raven]

2. Thanks, Mari and I'm sorry for your loss.

It's terrible to lose a friend. The vet is just down the road. I think I call him.

[roguevalley]

3. I agree. If your pup won't take water, then get to the vet.

let us know how it went and hugs to you, honey, who lost your pup.
There's nothing worse.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

4. I'd go to the vet immediately...

Check outside to see if she could have gotten into anti-freeze or some kind of pesticide.

Keep us updated...I hope your pup is ok!

~hugs~

[Raven]

5. An update.

I spoke to the vet. He did not seem to be too concerned. He told me to give her 2 Pepcid AC tablets, wait 20 minutes and give her Pepto Bismo caplets...1 for each 15 lbs of dog. No food and no water for at least the next 12 hours. Just like a kid! See seems a little bit better now. Thanks.

[SoCalDem]

6. Big dogs and "garbage gut"

Our labs got "pukey" occasionally, and the vet would usually attribute it to that.. They will literally eat ANYTHING..

Once when the boys were little, Steven came in and announced.."Hey Mom, Tasha eats rocks from my hand "..:eyes:

Yours could have found a dead bird, or gotten into someone's trash..

Ours were fenced in, so they were limited to what they could get into, but one of them ate a whole holly bush (supposedly poisonous) and lived to tell the tale..:)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. I'm glad to hear that!

I think Newfoundlands are gorgeous!

[Rhiannon12866]

8. Let us know how your big dog is doing

My neighbor has a beautiful Newfoundland who is the sweetest dog, ever. She is black, with one white foot and some white on her tail and has a wonderful temperament. I just took my dog to the vet yesterday, for a routine check-up, so have canine health concerns on my mind. My tiny guy, an eight-pound Brussels Griffon, was diagnosed with gastroenteritis and possible beginnings of glaucoma, so I am very concerned. My little guy is on two meds and I am waiting to hear about results from tests they did.:-(

I love Newfoundlands, so would love to see a photo if you can ever post them. When I look at my dog and my neighbor's, it's hard to imagine that they're the same species! LOL! Nala weighs about 150 pounds! Let us know how your dog is doing. You know how we feel about pets on DU!:-)

[SoCalDem]

9. Our neighbor's newfie, Murphy amazed my boys..

They had never seen such a huge dog.. In fact they annouonced to me that the neighbors had a GORILLA.. I just had to go next door and meet the neighbors, and say "hi" to their gorilla..

Murphy would stand at the fence (6 ft fence) and rest his chin and elbows on the top, so he could see into our yard.. They boys saw that huge head, and though he was a gorilla..:)

He was a sweetheart:)

[Rhiannon12866]

10. This is her second Newfoundland. When her last kitty passed on,

and she retired, she decided to get another dog. She hoped for a black one. This is another example of a pet ``finding'' you. This one was owned by a family who just didn't want her anymore. I just don't get it. She told me that the children didn't even look back. She is a beautiful dog, as I have said, with an equally lovely temperament. This woman lives alone and she and the dog are inseparable. The dog follows her everywhere and is even very good off-leash!:-)

I know what you mean about your boys thinking the dog was a gorilla. Dogs just aren't that big! When she got her first one, many years ago, I was away. When I got home, my mother pointed out the neighbors' new dog in their yard, down the street. This one was black and white and I did a double-take. From a distance, it looked like a cow to me!:7

[Dookus]

11. Every...

Newf I've ever met is a sweetheart. They're awesome dogs.

I'd get one in a second, but they don't tend to live very long, and I'd hate to lose a best friend after 8 years or so.

As others have noted, the only fault dogs have is that they don't live long enough.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. Exactly, my neighbor's first Newfie didn't like very long

Fortunately, the one she has now is only three. I also met a guy at my vet's with another sweet one that he had trouble loading into his vehicle to bring him home because he was sedated! It was obvious that he loved this great dog, eight-years-old and already having troubles.:-(

I lost my beloved cocker spaniel at 18 and my tiny Brussels Griffon is almost 10. I hope to have him at least another nine years. My cat is thirteen. The age of eight is just too young to lose a family member.;(

[dawgman]

12. she had any salmon?

Sounds like my dogs when they had the salmon sickness. For those of you don't know the first time a dog eats a salmon they will get sick. Can be serious if not treated.
Kind of like a kid and chicken pox. Eventually (here in WA) a dog will get it.

[Rhiannon12866]

15. I have heard of this! Dogs in certain parts of the country

(where I assume they have greater access to salmon, presumably) are more likely to get it. I saw a pamphlet on it at the vet's and got curious. It sounded quite serious.:scared:

Do you give your dogs salmon? I guess that's not so strange. My Barney really liked tunafish.:shrug:

[E_Zapata]

14. I assume her shots are current, right?

Against Parvo, right?

Please forgive me - but I am going to reprimand you for not taking your dog to the vet. Our animals rely on us to make these decisions for us. A checkup is maybe $35 - maybe you will need a test of some sort that increases the price. But it is well worth it.

When a dog gets sick because they ate something - usually it is a one time upchuck. Your dog continued to be sick and is still under the weather.

I don't know how you filtered your conversation with the vet on the phone, but I know if I had explained the exact symptoms to my vet, he would have said, "bring him in. You never know." and that's the thing - they can't tell you something on the phone.

Sorry - I am just thinking about this poor dog, whose human isn't willing to fork out a few dollars and some time to make certain that the pup is okay. They aren't cars that you can ignore, y'know.

I am sorry to be rude. But.."anything short of taking him to the vet" is just irresponsible!

[Raven]

16. "filtered my conversation with the vet"????

I beg your pardon! What is your problem! Why would I call the vet and "filter" the conversation? By the way, it's two days later and the vet's instructions were right on and the Newf is just fine. I don't take these things lightly but I don't panic either. I think you are a little over the top.